Inflatable form



May 15, 1928. 1,669,733

H. M. BECHER ET AL INFLATABLEFORM Filed March 50. 1926 Harold B66728? [Jaac Levin Patented May 15, 1928. g UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFICEL- EABOLD 'M. BEG-HER AND ISAAC LEVIN, OI BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

' INFLATABLE FORE.

Application filed March 30, 1926. Serial No. 98,548.

This invention relates to inflatable dress forms.

The principal object of the invention 15 to provide inflatable forms in the shape of p ortions of the human body capable of being distended for the purpose of exhibiting and taking the crease out of articles of apparel. Other objects will appear as the disclosure progresses. The drawings are intended merely to indicate a possible embodiment of the invention. It is obvious that the actual needs of manufacture may necessitate -certain mechanical changes. It is therefore not intended to limit the invention to the 16 embodiment illustrated, but rather to define such limits in the a pended claim.

In general this evice consists of a flexible envelope which when inflated takes the shape of a portion of a human body.

For a moredetailed understanding of the invention, attention is now called to the drawings in which a preferred emobdlment is illustrated. In these drawings, like parts are designated by like reference characters 26 in all the views.

Fig. 1 is a view of the form 1n the shape of the trunk of a human body.

Fig. 2 is a form in the shape of a human 1e so i g ig. 3 is a form in the shape of a human oot.

Referring to the drawings in detail, numeral 1 designates the inflatable form in the shape of the trunk of a human body,

consisting of the neck 2, shoulders 3, waist 4, hips 5 and interior cavity 6.

The wall member 7 is composed of rubber or other flexible material which can distend and capable of holding air slightly under 4() pressure without any leakage.

The bottom of the form is flattened as at 8, and inserted and vulcanized therein is a bottom plate 9 formed of slightly thicker material than the body. The purpose of the 5 thicker bottom is to prevent it from bulging outward when the form is inflated.

In the neck portion is another plate 10 vulcanized in place and is also thicker than the body portion in order to prevent any 59 outward bulge. This late is set some distance below the top of t e neck portion forming a pocket to accommodate the valve 11 and the rubber tubing 12. The function of the pocket is to keep the valve and tubing out of sight in order not to mar the appearance of the form.

and the plates 9 and 10 will come together,

thus reducing the bulk of the form and 00- cupymg a small amount of s ace.

In Fi 2 is shown a modi ed form in the shape 0 a human leg. This modification is especially adapted to exhibit stockings and to ascertain if there are runs in the stockings. The wall of this form is preferably made of thin flexible material so the light from any source of illumination will pass readily through and make visible any imperfection in the stocking. If found expedient an electric bulb can be inserted in the interior in order to illuminate same and make a pleasing effect when the stocking is exhibite Numeral 13 designates the form in the shape of a human leg, 14 the wall member, 15 the hollow interior,- 16 the knee, 17 the calf and 18 the upper leg. The knee portion is reinforced as at 19 to take care of the wear at this point due to folding and creaslng.

Numeral 20 designates the upper plate vulcanized in place. This plate is slightly thicker than the wall member in order to prevent any outward bulge when the form is inflated. Numeral 21 represents the valve and 22 the rubber tubing. The operation of this modification is the same as thatshown and described in Fig. 1.

Fig; 3 shows a modified form in the shape of a foot used to exhibit shoes and also keep them in shape. Numeral 23 \deisgnates the form and 24 the wall member made of flexible material. The bottom 25 ispreferably reinforced to prevent undue outward bulging when inflated. Near the top is an upper plate 26 vulcanized in place. This plate member is somewhat below the upper edge of the form thereby forming a pocket for the valve 26 and upper tube 27. The operation of this modification is the same as that shown in Fig. 1.

Having thus described our invention, what we desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

In a hollow dress form, the shape of a human body, the wall of said form being of flexible materal and capable of being diltended, the 'lower end of said form being flattened, a flanged bottom plate made of slightly thicker material than the wall memher for preventing any outwardbulge and I vulcanized to the interior of the lower end of the form, air supplying means, a. pocket formed in the upper neck portion to hold the air supplying means out of sight, the walls of said pocket formed of the continuation of D the wall of the form, the bottom of said pocket formed of a. flanged plate and vulcanized to the interior of the neck portion, the floor of said pocket made of slightly thicker material than the flange and a valve having a rubber tube connected thereto inserted in the floor of said pocket for inflating the form and retaining the pressure.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

HAROLD M. BECHER. ISAAC LEVIN. 

